Georgia State’s 2nd Half Surge Not Enough to Beat UNC

Georgia State held their home opener against North Carolina on Saturday at Center Parc Stadium. The Panthers played a tough game, but ultimately fell short to the Tar Heels in a 35-28 loss.

Georgia State was coming off a 35-14 loss to South Carolina in Week 1, and seemed motivated to get their first W in the win column. The Panthers went into halftime in a 21-3 deficit, but stormed back in the 3rd quarter to eventually take a 28-21 lead. The defense played with great intensity for the entirety of the game, neutralizing one of the most explosive offense’s in the country, in UNC, who was coming off of a 63-61 shootout with Appalachian State.

North Carolina rallied after going into their first deficit of the game, outscoring Georgia State 14-0 from the 2:04 mark in the 3rd quarter. UNC freshman running back, Omarion Hampton put on a show late in the game, scoring the Tar Heels last 2 touchdowns, and rushing for a total 110 yards.

UNC redshirt freshman quarterback, Drake Maye played a very efficient game. Maye threw for 284 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception, while completing 79% of his passes. He used his feet well, escaping the rush and avoided multiple sacks. He was able to spread the ball out to different targets, resulting in 3 of his receivers recording 60 or more receiving yards.

Georgia State’s redshirt senior quarterback, Darren Grainger, was the focal point of their offense throughout the game. He threw for 184 yards and 3 touchdowns, and completed 67% of his passes, while running for 75 yards. Grainger played a great game against the Power 5 opponent. He completed a handful of passes on the run, including a 29 yard touchdown to Robert Lewis, which gave the Panthers their first lead of the game.

The Georgia State defense brought the energy all game long, containing one of the best offenses in the country. Their defensive line was able to get the quarterback and create problems up front. The Panther’s defense took advantage of what was given to them and created extra possessions for their offense, recording 2 fumbles and an interception.

Georgia State had the opportunities to win game, but ultimately weren’t able to get the job done. Despite the heartbreaking loss, giving one of their tougher opponents a run for their money is a good building block for the Panther’s season moving forward. Georgia State proved that they will be able to go toe-to-toe with any other team on their schedule.

Up Next:

Georgia State: Host Charlotte on September 17th at 7 p.m.

North Carolina: Bye

BYU: Host No. 10 Baylor on September 10th.

Photo credit: Cameron Robertson/FAAZ Sports